FOR WELLINGTON FOLK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 5

FOR WELLINGTON FOLK

a splendid Modern retail EMPORIUM The W.F.C.A. has been established in a retail way in Wellington for the past eighteen years. The emporium on Lanibtoji Quay, established in the association's huge five-story block, is as well known as the G.P.0., and presents almost as lively an appearance week' in •and out. This business comes tinder the heading of a general providoring store, Tor there is little that could be asked for in the provision, hardware, or china line that the. association could not produce instantly. That is one of the great advantages of dealing with the W.F.C.A. The firm caters for a first-class trade, and gets it because its stock is first class in every respect. Owing to the exigencies of war, and the curtailment oF shipping between the Old World and New Zealand a considerable shortage of certain standard lines of English arid Continental goods has been experienced in tho Dominion, but owing to foresight on the part of the management and the policy of usually carrying heavy and well varied stocks, the W.F.C.A. is in a very. happy position to-day in being able to supply most of such goods at a reasonable price.

Ideal provision House. ( One has only to stop inside the mam entrance ,of the big shop on Lambton Quay to sense the character and universality of the business. It is an" easy matter to locate at a , glance the department you are in search of. To tlio right is the provision branch—hams, bacon, sausages, potted meats, cheese, butter, eggs, and delicatessen, in appetising confusion, and further back are the groceries. To the left is a very attractive display of china, not only household china for everyday uso, but

some extremely beautiful art china from the Doulton and other leading English potteries, exquisite in quality, design, and Colouring. Near by is a dazzling display of high-class confectionery of a decora tivo order— wonderfully ornamental bon-bons and table delicacies dear to everyone.at the festive season. A confectionery pavilion, with a _ fine range of thebest of English, American, and Zealand confectionery, makes a strong appeal to every sweet-tooth that ventures nigh. At the back aro the ironmongery, seeds, and garden tool departments, replete* with every* devico for the homo, and its vicinity. There are daily deliveries per motorvan of all goods purchased, ■ and thoso who have the foresight to pay cash receive a discount of 5 per cent.—a concession that makes a , big difference in the annual account. Special mention should also be made of the fact that tho W.F.C.A. are wine, spirit, ale, and stout merchants on a considerable scale, and thoso who may find themselves hampered mare or less by recent

legislative enactments may be quite sure of tho quality of any goods they may order. In this respect New Yoar orders should bo attended to as early as possible as a big rush is expected this season. Hampers arc made -up to order in such a manner as to please all tastes. Extensiuo Alterations. Of tho.five lloors in tho big building tho TV.F.C.A. at present occupies three. The growth of tho business has necessitated alterations, and plans were got out tiireo years ago by Messrs. Atkins and Bacon that are calculated to effect those improvements, but owing'to tho shortage of material tho work lias befin deferred. At present t'lio ground floor is divided - abmlt equally in two halves by a brick wall. This is to ho removed so as to throw tho whole of the ground floof into the one vast shop; tho-ceiling is to bo raised some tiireo feet; largo' modern plateglass show windows arc to bo provided, and a handsome glass-roofed verandah is to encanopy tho sidewalk outside. When this work is completed tho shop will be the largest in Wellington, and the management state that none in New Zealand will he ablo to boast a better stock.